When the hurt and the Healer collide

Pete and I both have been Gamecock fans all of our lives! Diehard, through thick and thin, whether they were making us happy or driving us crazy kind of fans! That was another thing that made us such a good fit for each other! We loved going to football and basketball games together! Pete has been a member of the Gamecock Club for 45 years! Since our seats were next to family, we always had a great time enjoying the games or else commiserating in our misery together at games! Pete’s one crazy quirk was that if he couldn’t be at the game, he would not watch it or listen to it! He drove me crazy! If we were doing something together, I would go and sneak peeks at the game or go listen to it and catch the score because I couldn’t stand not knowing what was going on! If we won, he would go watch the replay but if we lost, he wouldn’t even want to see it! Yet, if we were at the game in person, there was no way Pete Richards would EVER leave early! I can remember several times, it was POURING down rain…We were drenched from head to toe but the Gamecocks were still playing…and we were still in the stands watching them play! Why, oh why did I love this crazy man so much!

 Because of our love for Gamecock football, fall has always been one of our favorite times of the year. I knew that going to the game without him was going to be another hard “first” to do! And it was! I did ok until the invocation. Pete and I always held hands when we prayed together and/or anytime a prayer was being said…so when it came time for the prayer before the game and he was not there to hold my hand, it made his absence even more real to me. As the minister prayed, tears fell down my face. I sniffled through the next bit of time but thankfully, after that, I was ok. God must have known how hard this was for me because He sent special friends and family to me before, during and after the game. They were great distractions and caused me to smile and be so thankful for their love. And the Gamecocks won so that always helps! I have warned our Clemson buddies to look out because I am sure Pete is doing his best to talk Jesus into making sure Garnet is the favored color this year!

As I continue to walk this hard path and go through taking each new step, I still have those moments when the sadness is just so deep… yet I know without a doubt that the Healer is at work. I am just so thankful that He is there. A sweet friend shared this song by Mercy Me with me a few weeks ago…It speaks to where I am.

Why?
The question that is never far away
The healing doesn't come from the explained
Jesus please don't let this go in vain
You're all I have
All that remains

So here I am
What's left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I've fallen into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the Healer collide

Breathe
Sometimes I feel it's all that I can do
Pain so deep that I can hardly move
Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You
Lord take hold and pull me through

So here I am
What's left of me
Where glory meets my suffering

It's the moment when humanity
Is overcome by majesty
When grace is ushered in for good
And all the scars are understood
When mercy takes its rightful place
And all these questions fade away
When out of the weakness we must bow
And hear You say "It's over now"

Jesus come and break my fear
Awake my heart and take my tears
Find Your glory even here
When the hurt and the Healer collide

 Thank you, Lord, that Your glory meets our suffering! Amen and Amen.